We present a model of cognitive adaptation to examine the growth and behaviours of the underclass. In the model, individuals experiencing cognitive dissonance between status seeking and social recognition adapt their attitudes regarding what is deemed status worthy. This yields the endogenous...

We find an "inverse found money effect" in two-person public good experiments in which individuals earning their endowments contribute more and engage in "altruistic conditional cooperation" when they are matched with those whose endowment is provided by the experimenters.